A Few Oracle/Tarot Reviews

I have received a number of tarot and oracle decks from U.S. Games to review and  really love them all in their own way. I am giving you the spiel about them all here. As many of you know, U.S. Games Systems makes many of my most favorite tarot decks. I own quite a number of decks from their collection and I plan on reviewing them all here and there over the next few months. I hope you enjoy these reviews and consider stopping by U.S. Games' website and taking a gander at their awesome collection www.usgamesinc.com

Gummy Bear Tarot

I love this tarot. Had to say that right off. Of the 6 decks I was sent, this is indeed my favorite and I will keep using it over and over again. It is cute and adorable and perfect for smaller hands. I wasn't sure if I would even resonate with such a deck, but decks can surprise you. If you want younger people to get into card reading, this is a perfect deck. 

It is set up in the Rider Waite style which I love. I learned on the original Rider Waite deck growing up. Tarot reading in general had a bad stigma attached to it in the 80's, at least around here. I live in the bible belt and many people see the tarot as evil. Heck, my uncle wants to burn my tarot and oracle decks. (He's not touching them!) This deck totally doesn't have an evil vibe in the entire deck. I smile every time I see it. I love that the minor arcana are designed  with images. It is sometimes hard to connect with decks where the minors don't have their own depictions of the themes.

I want to thank U.S. Games for having the courage to put out a deck like this. I really do LOVE it!

Tarot of a Moon Garden

This is another deck that I am just in love with. I asked for it based on a recommendation of a friend. This deck is artistic, whimsical and colorful. I look at colors when I read the tarot and this gives me a lot to draw from. The images are all lovely and enchanted. It's a magical deck, really. The only negative I see is that the art nouveau border is so large that it sort of detracts from the experience. It makes many of the cards look so similar. 

But in the end, it doesn't really detract enough to stop a reading. It's really just a personal preference. I have accidently shuffled the deck upside-down before without realizing it. All-in-all, I really do love this deck. Every deck has some aspect  we don't like, but these mini amount of dislikes a really don't out weight the entire tarot experience. And it won't keep me from using this deck.

Use this deck if you want to connect with the Elemental and Fairy Realms. It really does have that sort of vibe. Enchanted and lovely.

Whimsical Tarot

This tarot is completely cute and adorable. It draws on nursery rhymes, mother goose characters and fairy tales that I thought I had long forgotten. I had an app once that paired obscure fairy tales with different cards but It just didn't work for me. This tarot does it right. They pair the proper fairy tale, child's story with each tarot card. This deck makes you smile when you use it. It has a wonderful energy about it. I have done a few videos about writing fiction with the tarot and this deck would certainly fit the bill in those regards. It could really help you access your childlike creativity and get you unstuck in your writing. This is true of the Tarot of a Moon Garden as well.

Dragon Tarot

These cards are great for connecting with male energy. Males seem to really resonate with the readings I do with them. This deck is a great size &  easy to shuffle. The things I don't like are that the minors aren't really designed like many other decks. I do have a bit of trouble deciding which card is which. A lot of the cards look exactly the same at a glance. Thank God for the wording on the card or I'd be lost. I would love to see a bit more color in this deck, maybe even close ups of dragons or something more artsy. All the dragons on all the cards look like twinkies of each other. Even with my trouble with the images, I pull really good readings with these cards. This would be perfect for a guy who is getting into reading tarot cards.

Cat's Eye Tarot

There are so many good things to say about this tarot. Our independent cat friends are really served well by this tarot. This deck feels so good. I love, love the back of the cards with the adorable cat face. It makes me smile every time. This has great images that give a reading so much to delve into. We all know what the cards mean, but images like the ones on these cards gives us so much more to draw from. I particularly like the 9 Lives Spread that is located on a convenient card and also in the little book provided with the deck. It's just wonderful. I like changing from deck to deck depending on the energy of the day. And this deck has a lot of positive energy and style. It keeps me coming back for more. This is a deck for cat lovers, obviously, but anyone can use this wonderful and versatile deck.

Woodland Wisdom Oracle

I really, really wanted to love this deck. I came away with a vague friendship instead. First of all, the card are GORGEOUS! I mean, really, really pretty. Big plus in my department. There is no denying the beauty of the cards. I had a hard time getting a good reading from this oracle. The cards are separated into two decks, green and yellow. I find that when publishers split a deck like this, I don't want want to use it as often because it is so much trouble.

The card descriptions are clever, deep and insightful. I decided to buck the rules of the oracle and shuffle the entire deck together. I had a better result this way. The cards are so deep, I think maybe the deck would be served with a bit of text on each card describing what it means. I feel like i must frequently refer to the little book provided with the deck. It doesn't give me much freedom to decide what it means on my own. I do still like this deck and might write on the cards to help me with a reading.

FINAL TALLY:

Gummy Bear Tarot: A definite must buy! Get it now!

Tarot of a Moon Garden: Two thumbs up! Great deck!

Whimsical Tarot: Another must buy! Love, love it!

Dragon Tarot: Not my favorite, but not bad. Great for guys!

Cat's Eye Tarot: If you like themed decks, this is the one to get! Two thumbs up.

Woodland Wisdom Oracle: Needs a bit of work, but I think anyone can work with it. One thumbs up! Get it and test it out for yourself.

I wanted to take a moment to thank U.S. Games Systems, Inc. for sending me these decks to review. I really, really loved and enjoyed them. It was a total blast. They have the best tarot decks. And I really have my eye on the Tea Leaf Oracle and the Mother Peace Tarot that are both die-cut in a circle. Love to give those two a go!

Check out U.S.Games Systems, Inc.! They have the BEST TAROT AND ORACLE DECKS IN THE BUSINESS! I own many, many of them. Check them out at their website www.usgamesinc.com

U.S. Games may have provided me with the decks, but the recommendations are my own.